South Pasadena City Council Meeting Preview
Still struggling to find a permanent city manager six months after the departure of Arminé Chaparyan, South Pasadena City Council on Wednesday is poised to appoint Sean Joyce as the new interim city manager. He will take over from Don Penman, who is set to leave the city Feb. 10.
It will mark the second time Joyce, who served as city manager from 1996 to 2004, has served in the interim position, and the second time the city’s financial matters will be a high priority. Council first turned to Joyce for seven months in September of 2020 after the ouster of Stephanie DeWolfe.
Stephanie DeWolfe was followed by Chaparyan, who lasted just over three years before prematurely resigning last July. Council then signed with Penman, whose contract said he’d serve until a permanent city manager was hired, but for no more than 960 hours–about 24 weeks. It’s already been over 24 weeks, but the city’s staff report states the reason Penman is leaving is a “family medical matter.”
The city was in crisis in September 2020 when Council first brought in Joyce, facing the start of the pandemic, a delayed audit due to an exploding financial management fiasco, the departure of its finance director and the resignation of its mayor in the wake of a fake email scandal.
Joyce arrives a second time with the city still playing catch up on fiscal matters. On Wednesday, Council will be asked to approve a $345,000 increase to its agreement with LSL LLP for additional accounting services–more than doubling the value of the contract–in part so LSL can complete a review of bank reconciliations. That and software implementation issues are pushing delays in both audit and budget preparation.
Joyce, who also served as city manager in Sierra Madre and Irvine, will be paid an hourly rate of $115.14 per hour with no other benefits–the same Penman was getting. His contract also sets a term ending with the hiring of a permanent city manager, but no more than 960 hours. Both men are retired California city managers who since retiring have served as interim city managers in several municipalities.
The Council on Wednesday is also expected to vote on a plan to merge its Mobility and Transportation Infrastructure Commission with its Public Works Commission; appoint or reappoint 22 people to these and other city commissions; and discuss a new “transportation corridor” working group.
South Pasadena City Council will also hold a hearing on an ordinance requiring developments with 10 or more dwelling units to either include affordable housing units onsite or, in some cases, pay a fee as an alternative to building such units.
